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Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan has hinted at a potential candidacy for higher office following his recent decision to leave the Republican Party and join the Democrats.
Duncan, a Republican holding the lieutenant governor position from 2019 to 2023, expressed his contemplation of running for higher office after his announcement earlier this week. His political future could be clearer in the coming weeks or months, as he shared with WSB-TV.
“I believe Georgians desire leaders capable of addressing issues from a central perspective,” Duncan remarked during the interview.
While Duncan did not specify which office he might pursue, speculation surrounds a possible campaign for governor. This would be to fill the position currently held by Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who has reached his term limit and served alongside Duncan during his tenure.
Prominent candidates already vying for the gubernatorial seat in the 2026 elections include Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former mayor of Atlanta with ties to the Biden administration, and current Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, along with Attorney General Chris Carr from the Republican side.
In an op-ed published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Duncan articulated that his political transition had been evolving over several years, predating the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election when President Donald Trump attempted to overturn the results in Georgia.
“My journey toward becoming a Democrat commenced well before Donald Trump’s efforts to manipulate the 2020 election outcomes in Georgia,” Duncan explained in the newspaper.
“There was no specific moment that defined the shift in my political beliefs, but it has undoubtedly occurred,” he continued, emphasizing that his choice stemmed from a desire to better love his neighbors as a public servant.
Trump did not hold back in his criticism of Duncan’s change in party affiliation, labeling the former lieutenant governor as a “total loser” who had fallen out of favor within Republican ranks.
On Truth Social, Trump remarked, “Failed former Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan of Georgia is a total loser. He was never effective and merely complained about everything. We didn’t want him in the Republican Party anymore, so it’s no surprise he became a Democrat. Good riddance, Geoff. You don’t stand a chance!”
In his op-ed, Duncan outlined various policy issues that influenced his party change, particularly criticizing Republican handling of healthcare, gun control, immigration, and assistance for low-income individuals.
Throughout his tenure in office, Duncan learned that the most effective way to support his community comes through committed public policy, previously serving in the Georgia House from 2013 to 2017. He chose not to seek re-election as lieutenant governor in 2022.
Duncan’s departure from the Republican Party followed his expulsion from the Georgia GOP earlier this year, attributed to perceived disloyalty. The party’s resolution highlighted his endorsement of President Biden in the 2024 election, followed by support for former Vice President Kamala Harris after Biden’s withdrawal from the race, along with actions deemed as undermining fellow Republican candidates, including Jones and 2022 Senate candidate Herschel Walker.
Earlier this August, Duncan also took the stage at the Democratic National Convention to express his support for Harris.
Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon underscored the reality of Duncan’s switch, stating, “Geoff Duncan has finally acknowledged what many have observed for years—he is now a Democrat,” as he commented on WSB-TV.
Duncan has been an outspoken critic of both Trump and the Republican Party, especially in the wake of the attempt to overturn the 2020 election outcome and the January 6 Capitol riots.
“It wasn’t one definitive moment that marked my transformation but rather multiple parallel processes. Observing the Republican Party’s integrity being eroded by Trump and his close supporters profoundly affected me,” Duncan informed WSB-TV.
In his editorial, he criticized a Trump-backed spending bill passed last month, claiming it would devastate Medicaid funding by cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from the program. He raised concerns about its negative impact on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps to ensure that children access meals at school.
Duncan also referenced polling data indicating notable public support for gun control initiatives, such as universal background checks and red-flag laws.
Addressing immigration policy, he criticized the harsh measures of the Trump administration, labeling them as a misstep in demonstrating care for one’s community. He urged for a balanced approach that emphasizes border security, removal of criminals from the country, and establishing a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants.
“The list of motivations driving my transition to the Democratic Party continues to expand,” Duncan concluded with conviction. “More importantly, this change better positions me daily to genuinely love and serve my community.”
